Electric signal control system



June 1933- H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL 1,915,696

ELECTRIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 8, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1933- F. H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL ELECTRIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuentoo FEANK H R (ll/[ZKE ail/V4 205527 3, 8OWEN dttmmq June 27, 1933. F. H. RICHTERKESSING ET AL 1,915,696

ELECTRIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 8, 1930 dbtow,

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 u. J' F F'atented June 27, 1933 i 1 tem may be employed 20 FRANK nro rrnnxnss naor o rsvILLnfimnrnoKY,Ann ROBERT s; BOWEN, or r wnsr NEWTON MAS ACHU$ETTIS, smmssro n li'onon & nnrrrn s ra'rns SIGNAL 0 Inc; or LOUISYILLE, xnnruci;

l nrno rnrc SIGNAL 0a SYSTEM I Application filed November :Qur invention relates to improvements in trolley contact signaling 'sys tems' especia'lly those adapted forfiuse with warning devices installed at the intersectionof a highwayand anelectric railway line.

lnthe accompanyingdrawings we have illustrated; our invention as applied to trolley contact signaling-systems, and haveshown applications of our-invention embodied in a signal system having means for operating signals on afsingle track electric railway, wherein it is desired to actuate the signal when a car is approach ng theintersection in Also an embodimentof our either direction. invention as applied to a doubletrack railway system-in which it'is desired tooperate a 'si 'nalu son the a roach of a car oneither track. It is obvious, however, thatour sysfor operating signals not only in connection with overhead trolley wires, but where underground or third-rail conductors are employed. applicable for-operating a signalupon apassage of a car in one direction, and be'iiioperative whenpassingin the opposite direction.

In the drawings which illustrate the application of onr.invention I Figure 1' is a diagrammatic.application or our invention asapplied to a single trolley wire .of a single-track railway, showing; the

signals and relays inatheir normal de-ener' gized condition. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic drawing showing the applicationof the :sys tem to a double-trackrailway system or a single-track system employing two trolleywires. One wire being employed, for a car traveling in one-direction, andthe other wire being employed for a car traveling in the reverse direction. Fig; 3 is a modified arrangement of the system shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to, Fig. 1, of the accompanying drawings illustrating the application of our device .to railway signal systems, the numeral 1 represents the overhead trolley. wire or current conductor. Positioned adj acent and parallel this trolley wire, are located suitable contacting devices normallyinsulated from the trolley wire andso arranged as to be section and are so arranged as to effect-the control for starting the signal system'in op- Our system is also 8;..1'936- Serial no. 494,298.

of, direction will be established. The contact members of the trolley contactors X and Z, and the relay system co-oper ating therewith, are so arranged that the. signal system will be set in operation when acurrent collector ist-raveling in the direction indicatedby the a-rrow,;and the signalsystem will not be afiected when traversed'by a current collector 1n the o 'ipositedirection; I At the intersection the lamps L1, L2, L3

and L4 are arranged on." a suitable signal standardandd'sposedintheline of vision of the vehicular tral iic [on-the highway, to ,provd e t-he ,means .of displaying a warning signal'tothetrafiic onthe highway when an electrio railway car is approaching-theintersecs L5 and L6 are, lo-

tion. The signal lamp cated advanceof thehighwayon the railway line and a'reflso arranged to provide a means. fornotifying theoperatorof thera ilway' car Qthatthe signal lamps located atthe 'interse'ctionhfave been properly operated.

. ,In the control system we also employ a relay -for .intei 'mittently energizing the group of signal; lamps installed at the intersection and the. signal lampsinstalled in advance of thehighway This relay which is represented by thecharacter Dis provided with an operating coil. Nfor, influencing its operating armature AN. Thearmature AN, which is ofthe oscillating type,lis provided with a suitable. inertia. or flywheel O. wT-he armature AN islalsoprovided mercury, arranged tolmakeand break an electrical'circuit between two contacts interposed therein. sThe flasher relay Dis so arrange Thismay; be brought ab outcby counterweightingjthe flywheel O in such a mannerthat it will: alwaysassumethis normal position when with a tube containing 7 d that the armatureAN,mercury tube M, and flywheelO arenormally biased to the, posi-.

tion indicated in the drawings, by gravity.

the operating coil N is de-energized. It is .very obvious, however, that a spring may be substituted to accomplish the same result.

The relay is so arranged that the mercury N being suificiently energized so as to cause the armature AN to be attracted. The instant the armature AN is attracted the mercury within the tube is caused to flow from the contacts and the circuit for the operating coil N is opened. As long as current is supplied to the operating coil in this manner the armature AN ill continue to operate to and fro, and the circuit will be intermittently opened governed by the .period of flywheel O.

In the system we also employ a relay which is of the last-position type, that is, a relay controlling group of contacts which remain in the actuated position without a normal holding current flowing through the coil. For this relay we have selected the type in which the contact arm is mechanically latched in one position when one operating coil is energized and the latch released to restore the contact arm when the other operating coil is energized. "The relay is provided with two operating coils A and C, the operating coil A arranged to affect the armature AA. The armature ,AA' is normally out of contact engagement, and is brought into contact engagementwith the front contacts 1G and 13 through the energization of the operating co1l A. The armature AA when electrically operatedto this position will remain in this position under the influence of the mechanical latch AL. The operating coil C is provided with an armature AC which is likewise norm ally out of contact engagement with electrical contacts. The armature AC is brought into contact engagement with the front contacts 8 and 5E through an energization of the operating coil C. 'T'he armature AC also operates to release the mechanical latch AL on the armature AA and is so arranged that it will return to its normal position as soon as the operating coil C becomes (ls-energized.

We also employ in this system two sensitive relays provided with operating coils E and F arranged to co-operate with the trolley contactors X and Z for determining the direction in which the railway car is traveling. The relay provided with the operating coil F is provided with an armature Al normally disengaging its front contact 9. The rela T provided with the operating coil E is equipped with an armature AE likewise normally disengaging its front contact 11.

Inasmuch as the direction-sensitive relays operate considerably faster than the main control. latch relay, we have embodied a timeelement relay provlded with an operating coil 27, resistance R to the T to prolong the energization of the operating coils A and C of the latch relay, a suiticienttime to insure. a positive operation of this device. The retarded pickup time-element relay is provided with an armature AT it is well-known to those skilled in the art, the retarded action of the armature AT may be brought about by various well-known constructed principles such as a cop-per sleeve placed about the core of the operating coil T, or by suitable dashpot arrangement attached to the armature AT or by aninertia device associated or oaerating in conjunction with the armature AT. Since the construction of the time-element means for this relay will not, affect the operation of our invention we believe the symbolic representation of this device will sulfi'cientlysupport the disclosure.

W h further reference to Fig. 1-, attention is directed to the novel arrangement of the electrical circuits associated with the operating coils E and F of the relays governing the energization ofthe setting circuit depending upon the direction the current collector YV is traveling. /Vith further 1, it will be noted that the current collector W approaching the'trolley ccntactor X, in the direction of the arrow, will first come into contact engagement with the contact member 3 and a circuit will be completed for the energization of the operating coil F. This circuit will be completed from the overhead. trolley conductor 1, through the current col l-ectorWV, contact member '3 of trolley contactor X, wire 3A, wire 3B, disconnecting switch 30, wire 31), operating coil F, wire ground G. The energization of the operating coil 13 will cause the armature Al to be brought into contact engagement with its front contact 9. No change in the electrical circuits will occur at this time, but as soon as the current collector' W continues and comes into contact engagement with the Contact member 2 of the trolley contactor X, a circuit will be completed for energization 1e operating coil E and retaining the energization of the operat ing coil F. This circuit will be completed from the overhead trolley conductor 1, through the current collector W, through the contact memberQ, of trolley contactor X, through wires 2A, wire 2B, disconnecting switch 20, wire 2D, operating coil E, wire 10, front contact 9, armature AF, wire 3E, operating coil F, wire 27, resistor R to the ground G, The energization oi" the operating coil E will cause the armature AE to be brought into contact engagement with its front contact 11. No change will occur in the circuit at this instant, but as soon as the current collector W disengages the contact members of the trolley contactor X, a circuit will be established for the energization of the operating coil A-of the main control latch normally engaging its back contact 28. As

reference to Fig.

T of the time. element relay,

I relay, wire 2E,

' collector W disengages relay and for retaining the energization of. the operatingcoils of the direction-sensitive relays for a predetermined time; 'Simul'taneone with this operation, wise be established through the operating coil of the time element relay for governing the time of current applic'ationflin this circuit. This circuit will be completed from the-overhead trolley conductor 1, through wire 1A, disconnecting switch 1B, protective fuse 1G, wire 11), wire 1E. back contact 28 of the retarded time element relay, armature AT of the time elementrelay, wire 4, operating coil wire 6, operating coil A of the main control'latch relay, wire 12, front contact 11 of the, direction sensiti've operating coil" E, wire 10, armature AF, wire 3E,'oper-' front contact'9,

27 res1stor R to the'ground ating coil F, wire G. After a predetermined timethearmature' AT will be brought out, of contact engagement with the normally engaged'back contact I 28 and the circuit rupted at a system will be restored to their normally de-.

described will be interthis point, and the'relays of the energized condition. I

Should the current collector WV traverse either of the trolley contactors X or Z in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows, the direction-sensitive relay control will not be affected in such a manner as. to select an operation ing relay. When the current Collector W approaches the trolleycontactor Z in a direc tion opposite "to that shown" by the arrow, which is the case when v the vehicle is leaving the intersection. thecontact member 2F will be'first engaged but neither of the direction-- sensitive relaysE or F will be affected. the curent collector continues itWill come into contact engagement with the contact member 3F and a circuitwill be established for the energization offthe operatingcoil 'F. This circuit will be completedfrom' the'trolley conductor 1, through the' current collector W, through the contact member 3F, wire 3G, wire 3B, disconnecting switch 3G, wire '31), operating coil. F, wire 27, resistance unitR- to the ground The en'ergization of the operat i'ng coil F or theoperationofits armature AF will not produce a change in any .of the.

control circuits and as soonas the current the contact members of the't-rolley contactor Z the-armature AF and the operating coil F will be restored to normal.

. In normal operation the current collector W passing either of the trolley contactors X or Z. in the direction indicated by the arwill so affect therelaysystem as to rows,

signal controlto beset into opera cause the tion. As the current collector W passes the ,7

intersection in either direction, it will come into contact engagement with thetrolley con-' tactor Y, and the relay system will be af- 7 a c rcuit will likeof the main control lat'ch-' the energization "of the highway signal lamps L1,- L2, L3 andlA, and the pilot lamps fected in such a manner as to cause the signals to be restored to normal. The circuit for restoring the system to normal will be completed. from the trolley conductor 1 through the current collector WV, through the contact member 5 of trolley contactor Y,

wire 5A, disconnecting switch 513, wire wire 1D, wire 1E, backcontact 28 of the re armature AT, wire4, I

tarded pick up relay, operating coil '1" of the'retarded pick-up relay, wire 6, wire 7, front contact 8, armature AC, of'the main control latch relay,

front contact 5E,.wire 51), operating coil C,

the energization of wire 25, resistanceunit R1 to the ground G. I

As soon as the armature AC was brought into contact engagement with the front contacts 8 and'oE, the armature likewise engaged the tripping lever of the mechanical -latchAL,i and the armature AA was restored to its normal position. After a predetermined time the armature AT'of the r e'tarded'piclr-up relay will disengage its back contact 28 and the operating circuit of the: coil C- will be instored to normal. I Q

lVhile the armature AA was mechanically latched in co'ntact'engagement with its front contacts lGand 13, for the operation "of the signal lamps installed at the highway. This circuit was completed from' thetrolley conductor 1, through wire 1A, disconnecting switch 113, protective fuse 10, wire 1D, wire 1F, front contactlG, armature AA, front contact 13, wiregl l, flexible connector 15, through the mercury tube M of the flasher relay D,' flexible connector 16, wire 17, operating coil N of the flasher relay D, wire 18, wire 22, highway signal lamp L1, wire 23, signal lamp L2, wire 24-, pilot lamp'LG to theo ground G. A' divided circuit was formed at the connection of wires; 18 and 22 feeding through wire 19, signal lamp L3, wire 20, signal lamp L4,

terrupted and the'relay syste1nwill.be rewire 21", pilot lampiLEi to the ground Gr. It

will likewise be noted that the current for L5 andLG, was taken through the operating coil N of the flasher relay D, and'as was previously described, the energization of. the operating coil N of the relay D willceluse he armature AN tooscillate in 'such a manner a. circuit was completed as to cause the current in this circuit to be periodically interrupted. By placing thev pilot lamg is L5 and L6 in series with the signal lamps installed In the mam highway,

a safe and dependable indication is provid- The system shown in Fig. 2 is a modification of the system shown in ig. 1, illustrating the method of employing such a relay control on a double track railway system. With reference to Figure 2, it, will be noted that the highway signal lamp and pilot circuits are identical to those described in Fig. 1, and like numerals and characters have been employed to identify the similar parts. Inasmuch as two railway cars may be approaching the intersection at the same time on the different tracks, separate main control latch relays have been employed for each of the tracks. It has also been found through prac tice, advisable to employ separate time ele- I through ment relays for eachof the main control latch relays, to insure the proper energization of the operating coils, should the current collectors engage the trolleycontactors simul-- taneously. Inasmuch as the railway cars travel in one direction only on each of the tracks, the direction-sensitive control is not employed on the double track system, but the sensitive-relays E and W are employed to insure the operation of the setting control magnets A and A1 ofthe main control latch relays- The current collector N approaching the intersection on the trolley wirel in the direction indicated by the arrow will first come into contact engagement with the trolley contactor U, and will affect the relay control for starting the signal in operation. This circuit will be completed from the trolley conductor 1, through the current collector W, through the contact member 3 of trolley contactor U, wire 3A, disconnecting switch 3B, wire 3C, wire 3]), operating coil E, resistance unit It to the ground G. As soon as the current collector IV disengages the trolley contactor U a circuit willbe completed for the energization ofthe operating coil A of the main control latching relay. This circuit will be completed from the trolley conductor 1, through wire 1A, disconnecting switch 1B,

' protective fuse 10, wire 1D, wire 1K, back Icontact 1L of the retarded pick-up time ele-.

ment relay, armature AT, wire 4, operating coil T, wire 5, operating coil A of the main control latching relay, wire 6, armature AE of the setting control relay, front contact 3E, wire 31), operating coil E, resistance unit R to the ground G. After a pre-determined time the armature AT of the retarded pick-up time element relay will disengage the hack contact 1L, and the'setting control circuit will be interrupted at this point. The enerinto contact engagement with its front contacts 1G and 16, and as was described under Fig. 1, the armature will remain latched in this position under the influence of the mechanical latch AL. .As long as the arma ture AA remains in this mechanically latched position, a circuit will be established through the operating coil N of the flasher relay D, for intermittently energizing the signal lamps L1,.L2, L3 and LA, and the pilot lamps L5 and L6 as previously described in Fig. 1. As soon as the current collector W clears the intersection it will come into contact engage ment with the overhead trolley contactor Y and effect the control for restoring. the signal indications to their normal condition. This clearing control and circuit is identical to that described in Fig. 1 and since like numen ale and characters have been employed to identify the similar parts, a further descrip tion of this operation is not necessary.

Should the current collector W approach the intersection on the trolleywire IT in the direction indicated by the arrow, it will first come into contact engagement with the overhead trolley contactor V, thereby completing a circuit for the energization of the operating coil W efl'ecting the control for energizing the operating coil A1 of the main control latchingrelay. This established circuit will start the signal system into operation as was previously described for thecurrent collector traveling on thetrolley wire '1. As soon as the current collector clears the intersection, it will come into contact engagement with the overhead trolley contactor Y1 and a circuit will be completed through the op- The system shown in Fig. illustrates the application of the direction-sensitive control to the main control latching relay, without employing an auxiliary retarded pick-up relayv to insure the operationof the relays. A system of this nature might often be employed when the traveling current collector is moving much slower than is possible with the relaysystem described and disclosed under Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 3 all the safety features of the circuits have been retained with the exception of the application of the mentioned retarded pick-up relay. In this i Z are identical to those employed in Fig.) 1,

' energization of the operating coil E of the resistance unit It to'ground front contacts 11) and 13 under the the pilot lamps installed control latching relay.

and are used to effect the relay control for starting the signal inoperation whe11thecur rent collector W approachmg the mterin Fig. 1 and is used tical to that employed control for restoring for etlecting the relay the entire system to normal. With further reference to Fig. 3; it will be noted that the current collector il -approaching the inter section will, come into contact engagement with contact member'B of the trolley contactor X and a circuit willbe completed for the directional control relay. This circuit will be completed from the trolley condu'ctor'l through the current collector W, through the contactmember 3 of the trolley contactor X, through wire 3A, wire 33, disconnecting switch 8G,,wire 3]), operating coil E, wire 27, resistance unit'R to the ground Gnf As soon as the current collector disengaged the contact member 3 and comes-intocontact-'en gagement with the contact member 2 of the trolley contactor X, a'circuit will be complet ed for the energization' of the operating coil A of the main control latching-relay. This circuit will be completed from the current conductorl, through t'he' current collector lmthrough the contact member 2,- throi1gh wire 52A, wire 23, disconnecting sw-itch2C, wire 21), armature AEof the directional control. relay, front contact-9, wire 10", operating coil A of the inaincontroljlatching relay, wire 3E, operatingcoil E NViIG 27,

G. The energization of the operating coil A will. result in the armature AA of the main control latching relay being brought into'contact engagement with its contacts 11) and 13. As soon as the currentcollector disengages the trolley-contactor X, theoperatingcoils A and E will become de-energized but the armature AA will remain" in contact engagement with the of the mechanical latch AL. Aslong as the armature AA. is in contact engagement with these contacts, a circuit will be established through the operating coil N of the flasher relay 1) for intermittently energizing the signal lamps installed at the highway and on the electric railway line. Inasmuch as the circuit is identical to that shown and described for Fig. land since like numerals and characters have been employed to identify the similar parts, a

further description of this circuit is not necessary. As soon as the current collector continues it willcome into contactengagement with the trolley cont'actor 'Y installed atthe highway intersection, and a circuit will'be completed for the energization-of the main c tion of the operating coil influence site to that indicated by the arrows.

sorted to,

This circuit will be c completed the overhead conductor 1, throughthe current connector W, through relay,

wiref25, resistance unit R1 to the ground The energization of the operating coil C will cause the armature AC of the main'con'tr'ol latching relay to engage, the tripping lever of fthe mechanical latch AL and thereby releasethe mechanical latch maintainedjon the armature AA. As soon as the current collector disengages the trolley contactor Y, the Y armature AC and theme" chanical latch AL will be restored to their normal positions. After the-current collectorvleaves the protected Zone and comes into contact engagement with the trolley contactor Z, it .will first come into contact engagement with the contact member 2F. This contact engagement will not affectany of the circuits of the control system, but as 'soojn'as the current collector continues and comes member 8F of the overhead trolley contactor Z, circuit will be completed for the energiz'ac E. vThis energizetion'of the operating coil E will not affect the startingcontrol of-the system since a successive contact engagement 'of the contact members 3 and 2 of the overhead trolley contactor X and the contact members 3F and 2F of the trolley c'ontactorZ in the directions indicated by the arrows is necessary to affect c the starting control.

Attention is directedto the merits obtained in the use of a direction-sensitive control em:

ployin'g the principles outlined in Figs-' 1 and 3. In the system itwill be noted that it is necessary to'maintain a successive engagement in apredetermineddirection in order to establish the sequence of operations necessary to affect the starting control. This is a very duce a false starting operation by the current collector traveling in a direction oppo- Hereto': fore this objection has been inherent in the ,various'directional controls employed, andmany complicated additions have been rein an attempt to correct this difii cultyn It will also be seen .by' referring to thedrawings that a failureof any contact, theropening of' any wire or resistor will renderthe starting control inoperative,-and likewise prevent a false starting operation through the failure of any of the elements included in this control. In the double-track system'indicated in Fig. 2, attention is directed to the employment of the retarded pick-up timerelement relays to insure a posltive operation of themain control magnets. Hereto'fore, it has been found that wheels engaging trolley contacting devices make I veryindifierent cont-acts resulting in the condesirable feature since it is impossible wpw trol relays being improperly operated. By employing a very sensitive relay to be actuated by the current collector for remotely controlling the main control relay for a predetermined time, a positive operation of the main control is always assured.

There are, of course, many modifications and arrangements of the parts which may be n'iadefrom that shown in the above disclosure as is indicated in the modifications shown in the inclosed drawings which it isv believed will still fall within the scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a signal system, the Combination with a signal, of relays controlling said signal, a current conductor,-a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members located adjacent to the said conductor and being insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by a movable member adapted to travel upon the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay'connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay connecting the other contact member and ground, means whereby both of said relays operate when the said contact members are successively engaged in one direction to select the operation of the said signal control relay, and only one of the said relays to be actuated when the said members are engaged in the opposite direction.

2. In a signalsystem, the combination with a signal, of relays controlling said signal, a current'conductor, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members located adjacent to the said conductor and being. insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by a movable member adapted to travel upon the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay connecting one'of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact of th'efirst mentionedreiay connecting the other contact member and ground.

r 3. In a signal system, the combination with a signal, of relays controlling said; signal, a current conductor, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members located adjacent to the said conductor and being insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by ,a movable member adapted to travel upon the said'conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay connecting one of the said contact menibers and ground, another circuit including a second relay and a normally open Cont of the first mentioned relay connecti g the other contact member and ground, means whereby bothof said relays are actuated located adjacent to the said conductor and being insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by a movable member adapted to travel upon the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another'circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact ofthe first mentioned. relay connecting the other contact member and ground through a branch of the'first said circuit.

'5. In a signal system, the combination with a signal, of relays controlling said signal, a current conductor, a vehicle controlled switchcomprising a pair of contact members located adjacent to the said conductor and being insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by a "movable member adapted to travel upon the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a second relayand a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay connecting the othercontact member and ground through .a branch of the first said circuit, means whereby both of sald relays are energized when the said contact members are successively engaged in one direction and only one of the said relays are energized when the said members are engaged in the opposite direction. V r H 6. In a signal system, the combination with a signal, of relays controlling said signal, a current conductor, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of cont-act members located adjacent to the said conductor and being insulated therefrom and from each other, said contact members so arranged as to be successively engaged by a movable member adapted to travel upon the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a' relay connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact of the first. mentionedrelay connecting the other contact member and through a branch of the first said means whereby both of said relays ergized when the said contact members are successively engaged in one direction to select the operation of the said signal control relay and only one-of the said relays is ener gized when the said members in the opposite direction,

ground circuit,

and means whereby are engaged are (ill 7 a current conductor,

' to be successively engaged by a movable memher adapted to travel upon-the saidconductor, a normally open -,circuit inclu ding a relay connecting one otthesaid contact mem# bers and ground, another circuit-including a second relay and a normally open contact of the first mentioned relayconnecting the other contact. member and -ground,mcans whereby both of said relays operategwhen the said contact members are successively engaged in one direction to select the operation another a source ofpower,

mally insulated from the source of powerof the said signal control relay, and only one of the said re'lays to be actuated'when the said members are engagedin theopposite direction, and means whereby the'firstmentioned circuit remains energized fora predetermined. time after the said movableelement (l isenga'ges the said vehicle controlledswit'ch.

8; Ina signal system, the combination with a signal, otrelays controlling said signal, a current conductor, a vehiclecontrolled switch located adjacent the said conductor and insulated therefrom adapted to be actuated by a movablemembertravelingon the said con ductor, a normally open circuitincluding a relay connectingthe said vehicle controlled SWltCll and ground,

another circuit including a time element-relay,=a normally closed contact of the said' time element relay, and-fa normally open contact of the first-mentioned relay for connecting the current con- .ductor and ground through the first mentioned circuit, and means wherebyfthe said circuit remainsrenergized tor'ja predetermined time' atter the said movable-element, disengages the said vehicle controlled switch. [9. In a control system, theicombination of a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members norand being insulated from each other,.thesaid con tact members being so-arranged asto he successively engaged by a member of a moving vehicle for connecting the contact members of the said-vehiclecontrolleddevice to the source of power, a normally'open circuit in cluding a relay connecting one: of the said contact members and the return to the source of power, and another circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact of; the first mentioned relay connecting the other contact member to the said return through v the first mentioned circuit.

the combination of a signal, of relays controlling the-said, sig-- V Y nal, a source of power, a vehicle controlled switch 'adapted to be engaged'by a moving vehicle, a normally open 'circuit'including a relay connecting and ground arranged to be connected to the source of powerwhen the said vehiclecontrolled switch: is engaged by a moving vehicle, anda'seco'nd relay, having a circuit including a normally closed contact of the said second relay, a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay and a branch of the first said circuit.

11. In a signal system, a signal, of're'lays controlling the said signal,'a source of power, a vehicle-controlled the combination n the vehicle controlled switch switch adapted to be engaged by a moving vehicle, a normally open circuit including a relay arranged to be connected to the source of power when the said vehicle controlled switch is engaged by moving vehicle, and a second relay, having a circuitincluding a normally closed contact'o f the said second relay, a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay and a branch of the first said circuit, for

retaining the first said circuit connected to the source'of power for a predetermined time after the've'hicle' disengages controlled switch. a v

12. In a signal system, the combination of a signal, ofrelays controlling the said sig nal,'a source of power, a vehicle controlled switch adapted to'be engaged by a. moving vehicle, a normallyopencircuit including a relayarranged to be connected to the source of power when the said vehicle controlled the said vehicle switch is engaged by a moving vehicle, and a second relay, h'aving a circuit including a normally closed contact of the said second relay,

a normally open contact of the first. mentioned relay and a branch of the'first said circuit, for retainingthe first said circuit con nected to'the 'source ot power after the VQ";

vehicle controlled hicle disengages the said switch. 1 I '13; In a signal system, with a signal, of relays controlling nal, a current-conductor, switch'comprising a pair of contact members located adjacent the said conductor and be- 7 ing insulated therefrom and from each other,

said contact members so arranged as to be the combination said siglit) a vehicle controlled successively engaged by a movable member Y adapted totravel upon the said conductor, a normallyopen'cirouit including a-relay connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a mentioned relay connecting the other contact member and ground, means whereby both of said relays operate when the said contact 1 members are successively engaged-in one disecond relay and a normally open contact of the first rection to select the operation ofthe said signal control relay, and only one of the said:

relays to be actuated when the said membersare engaged in the opposite direction, and

- a normally open circuit including a relay connecting one of the said contact members and ground, another circuit including a second relay and a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay connecting the other contact member and ground through a branch of the first said circuit, means whereby both 01". said relays are energized when the said contact members are successively engaged in one direction to select the operation of the said signal control relay and only one of the said relays is energized when the said members are engaged in the opposite direction, and means whereby the first mentioned circuit remains energized after the said movable element disengages the said vehicle con trolled switch.

15. In a control system, the combination of a source of power, a vehicle controlled switch I comprising a pair of contact members arranged to be successively engaged by a moving vehicle, a normally open circuit including a relay so connecting one of the said contact members that the said relay will-be connected to the source of power when the vehicle engages the said contact member, and a second circuit including a second relayso connecting a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay and the other contact member of'the vehicle switch that both ofthe said relays wi ll be connected to the source or power when the vehicle disengages the first contact member and engages the said secon d contact member.

16. In a control system, the combination of a source of power, a plurality of relays, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members arranged to be successively engaged by a moving vehicle, a normally open circuit so connecting one of the said contact members that one of the said relays will be connected to the source ofpower when the vehicle engages the said contact member, and a second relay having circuit connections to another one of the said contact members and a normally open contact of the first mentioned relay whereby both of the said relays will be connected in series and to the source of power when the vehicle disengages the first contact member and engages the said second contact member.

17 In a control system, the combination of a source of power, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members arranged to besuccessively engaged by amoving vehicle, a'normally open circuit including a relay, connecting one ofthe said contact members and the return of the source of power, another circuit includinga relay and a contactof the first mentioned relay, conneca ing the other contact member and the'return of the source of power, means whereby both of said relays are actuated when the said 7 contact members are successively engaged in one direction only.

18. In a signal system, the combination of a signal, a source of power, a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair ofcontact members arranged to be successively engaged by a noving vehicle, a normally open circuit including'a relay and one of the said contact members, another circuit including a second relay and another one of said contact members, means whereby both of said relays op- 'erate"when the said contact members are,

successively engaged in one direction to select the operation of the said signal control relay, and only one of the said relays to be actuated when the said contact members are engaged in the opposite direction.

"19. In a signal system, the combination 'witha'signal, of relays controlling'said signal, 'a'source of power, a current conductor,

a vehicle controlled switch comprising a pair of contact members to be successively engaged by a moving vehicle, a normally open circuit including a'relay connecting one of saidcontact'members and the return connection'of the source of power, and another circuit including a second relay and a contact or the first mentioned relay connecting the other contact member and the return connection of the source of power.

20.111 a signal system, the combination ,with a signal, of relays controlling said sig nal, a current conductor, a vehicle controlled switch located adjacent the said conductor and insulated therefrom adapted to be actuated by a movable member traveling on the said conductor, a normally open circuit including a relay connecting the said vehicle controlled switch and ground, another circuit including a time element relay, a normally closed contact of the said time 7 element relay and a normally open contact of the first men tioned relay for connecting the said current conductor and ground through the first men tioned circuit, and means whereby the said another circuit remains energized after the said movable element disengages the said vehicle controlled switch.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

FRANK H. RICHTERKESSING. ROBERT S. BOWEN. 

